By Etuka Sunday
No fewer than 800 companies have submitted expression of interest for the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialization Programme (NGFCP), the Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has disclosed.
Dr. Kachikwu, who gave the hint t at a programme entitled ‘The Journey so far and the next line of action for the Nigerian gas flare commercialization programme and international press briefing’, stated that about 200 firms has duly paid the required fee of $1000 for the project.
Kachikwu who also reiterated the urgent need to overcome the problem of gas faring in the industry explained that doing so would not only save environmental degradation but also generate money for the country. He assured that government would select only the companies that are competent both technically and financial strong to carry out the projects.
While inaugurating the evaluation committee team comprising Ministry of Petroleum, PTDF, and others to drive the project, the Minister said that ending gas faring by 2020 is an aspiration but if Nigeria did not meet up efforts will continue until desired goal is achieved.
He disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari gave a marching order to work out programme that will enable Nigerians to increase utilization and end gas flaring.
Chairman of the occasion Engr Rabiu Sulaiman said that 193 trillion cubic feet of gas can be converted to various products and create over 3,000 jobs. He said that it will help the country to exit from darkness to light.
He said that the country needs over N30 billion for infrastructure penetration that would drive the commercialization of the gas flaring.
According to him, “but we cannot continue to wait, it takes time to get there. Gas flaring is a major issue, but I will begin to task the Oil companies to ending it and clean the operating environment. It has become a health hazard, not just about the commercialization” He also disclosed that there are about 176 flaring point in the country.
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